My question is that which of these beds would benefit from a good layer of farmyard manure in autumn? Different gardeners seem to have different opinions, some say for instance that brassica, onion, and root veg especially carrots don't grow well if the soil is too rich. Others say that all veg benefit from fertile soil. Advice would be much appreciated.

Bed 1 Taters can be grown in fairly fresh manure. The best stuff is black, crumbly, well rotted and does not smell. At this stage you can also use it in bean trenches, and under courgettes..

Basically manure bed 1 in year 1 , in year 2 put peas and beans. year 3 grow brassicas. Brassicas benefit from nitrogen left by peas and beans.

Onions also grow in fertile soil which was manured last year.. Bed 5 does not like manure at all. so would be last in a rotation. Onions like it rich. Mine are growing on last years well rotted and will be massive.

Aisha, if the manure is old and well-rotted, you could dig it into bed 5 in the autumn for spring planting. Root crops - carrots, etc - resent recently-manured beds, particularly if the manure is fresh, that's all. Or recently fertilised in any way, for that matter. The most important thing for the root crops is to have the soil as fine - lump-free - as you can get it.

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